Man ticketed for trying to trade gator for beer

MIAMI — Florida wildlife officials say a man tried to trade a live alligator for beer at a Miami convenience store.

State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino says the man received a citation for illegally capturing and trying to sell the gator.

Pino tells WTVJ-TV (http://bit.ly/18THij3 ) that the man trapped the 4-foot-long gator at a nearby park and brought it to the store Dec. 10. When he proposed to trade the animal for a 12-pack of beer, the store clerk called authorities.

Pino says the alligator was "pretty much in good shape." The animal was released back into the wild.